ANZAC DAY : THE NEW ZEALAND STORY launched in Auckland

Following a successful event in the author’s home town of Wellington, the Auckland launch of timely children’s book Anzac Day: The New Zealand Story – what it is and why it matters by Philippa Werry was celebrated at the National Library in Parnell, Auckland, on Monday 8^th April.

 With the evening sun streaming through the glass windows on the top floor of the National Library – the first evening after the weekend’s change of the clocks – an intimate and bustling crowd of Philippa’s Auckland ‘whānau’, old friends and key figures in children’s literature eagerly gathered to hear more about her newly released book.

 Fellow New Holland children’s author Maria Gill opened proceedings with an introduction to the book, Anzac Day: The New Zealand Story was put in to the context of a prolific career – Philippa Werry has had three children's novels published, as well as a number of chapter books and beginning readers, many plays, poems, stories and articles for the School Journal and other educational publications.

Philippa spoke about her personal connections to the Great Wars and what had inspired her to write Anzac Day: The New Zealand Story, which in terms of sales and excitable comments from readers, parents and grandparents has proved that her book has hit the right note.  Daughter Charlotte Werry sampled some excerpts from the book, giving the audience a taster for the content and style of the new book.

John Graham from Paper Plus Glenfield was very pleased to have sold every last copy (and orders taken) with many guests citing that they were purchasing multiple copies for grandchildren.

Philippa Werry has spoken to a number of high profile media in Auckland and Wellington, as she encourages us all about the importance of engaging young people in our history and the events that have shaped New Zealand as a nation.

 Anzac Day: The New Zealand Story – what it is and why it matters by Philippa Werry, published by New Holland publishers, RRP $24.99, published March 2013, paperback, 265 x 210 mm, 64 pages

Age: 8–14
To view Philippa’s video, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBwfTBmW--Q

 

Storylines and New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards

 New Holland Publishers were also able to share fellow author Maria Gill’s success during the launch event as her book Eruption! Discovering New Zealand Volcanoes received a Storylines Notable Book 2013 award for non-fiction at the Margaret Mahy day over the weekend.  A second New Holland publication Kiwi: the real story, by Annemarie Florian and illustrated by Heather Hunt also collected a non-fiction award– reinforcing the strength of the New Holland children’s list, with two books receiving this accolade out of a total of six in the non-fiction category. Kiwi: the real story has also recently been named as a finalist in the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards.